Shepherd forecasts Stirling’s direct rail link to London will put its property sector on fast track to growth

 

Following rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) approval of an application by Grand Union Trains to operate four daily return services between London Euston and Stirling from June 2025, Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is forecasting that the direct link will put Stirling’s residential and commercial property sectors on the fast track to growth.

The ORR said it found that the plan submitted by Grand Union Trains would increase choice for passengers and significantly increase direct journey options between London and both central and southern Scotland, while making use of existing capacity on the network.

Alasdair McConnell, commercial surveyor in Shepherd’s Striling office, said: “We welcome this decision which means that Stirling joins other major Scottish cities in having a direct link to London which will further enhance the city’s ability to connect with key markets across the UK and encourage further investment in both the commercial and residential sectors.”

Kieran Bonner, residential surveyor in Stirling, added: “There’s no doubt that a direct rail link between Stirling and London will enhance and broaden its appeal as a place to live and work by boosting the connectivity to an already well-connected and centrally-located city at the heart of Scotland.”

The trains will call at Milton Keynes Central, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert.

Grand Union Trains will run on an open access basis, meaning it will receive no taxpayer-funded subsidies and take on all revenue risk. It will be the first open access operator on the West Coast Main Line.

ENDS

For further information please contact Alasdair McConnell or Kieran Bonner at Shepherd on tel 01786 450438